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  DOG TREATS  

• The NIU Huskies wrap up the 2024 regular season with a Thanksgiving Saturday home game versus long-time foe Central Michigan.  
• NIU will honor a school record 30 seniors prior to Saturday's game. The group includes 20 players who have spent their entire careers as Huskies with four sixth-year players and 10 whose NIU careers began in 2020. Twenty-seven seniors are listed on the NIU two-deep this week.
• Ten current Huskies have played in 50 or more games at NIU while the defense features eight players with at least 100 career tackles, led by senior Jaden Dolphin's 204 stops. 
• NIU is bowl eligible for the 19th time this century and has played in 14 bowls games since 2003, more than any other Mid-American Conference team. 
• NIU and Central Michigan meet for the 60th time as the Huskies have played the Chippewas more than any other opponent. CMU leads the series 33-25-1 and has won four of the last five and eight of the last 10 games between the teams. 
• The Huskies rank first in the MAC in both total offense (388.1 yards/game) and total defense (288.0 yards/game). NIU has not held opponents to less than 288 yards per game since 1972.    
• NIU is coming off a 20-9 loss at Miami (Ohio) on Tuesday, November 19 in Oxford. The Huskies fell behind 17-0 in the first half and were unable to mount a comeback despite holding Miami to four first downs and just 74 yards in the second half.       
• Senior defensive tackle Devonte O'Malley has recorded a sack in six of NIU's last seven games, giving him eight on the season, the highest total by a Huskie since Sutton Smith's 15 in 2018. O'Malley's 21 career sacks are sixth at NIU all-time.  
• NIU has held 19 of its last 24 opponents over the last two seasons to 25 points or less, including 10 of its 11 2024 foes with Western Michigan the only team to surpass 25 points this season.
• The Huskies lead the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in third down conversion percentage defense with opponents converting just 25.9 percent of their third down chances in 2024. 
• NIU has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in its last 15 games, dating back to the 2023 game at Central Michigan.
• The NIU running back duo of true freshman Telly Johnson Jr. and senior Gavin Williams has ably filled in for Antario Brown with three 100-yard rushing games over the last three games. Williams leads NIU in rushing with 676 yards. 
• Senior Trayvon Rudolph needs 50 yards to reach 2,000 for his career and already ranks in NIU's Top 10 for receiving and all-purpose yards.  

NIU Schedule & Results
 

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 CHIPPEWAS' FOOTBALL FACTS 
Head Coach (Alma Mater/Year): Jim McElwain (Eastern Washington, 1984)
Record at Central Michigan/Years: 33-35/6th
Career Record/Years: 77-62/12th
2023 Record: 5-7
Conference Record/Finish: 3-5/T-4th-West
Location: Mount Pleasant, Mich.
Enrollment: 15,465
Conference: Mid-American
Colors: Maroon and Gold 
Stadium: Kelly/Shorts Stadium
Surface/Capacity: FieldTurf/30,255
President: Neil MacKinnon
Athletic Director: Amy Folan
Athletics Website: CMUChippewas.com
Twitter: @CMU__Football

CMU Schedule & Results
 

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  NIU-CMU SERIES  
Overall: CMU leads 33-25-1
In DeKalb: NIU leads 15-13-1
In Mount Pleasant: CMU leads 20-10
In MAC Games: CMU leads 21-17
First Game: Sept. 30, 1939 - CMU 6, NIU 0 (A)
Last Game: Oct. 31, 2023 - CMU 37, NIU 31 (A)
Streak: CMU, 2

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  FOLLOW THE HUSKIES  

TV: NIU-CENTRAL MICHIGAN ON CBS SPORTS NETWORK

• Watch the NIU-Central Michigan game on CBS Sports Network as NIU makes its 22nd appearance on the network all-time.
• The CMU game is NIU's third on CBS Sports Network this year and its seventh network broadcast of 2024. 
• NIU is 9-12 all-time in games broadcast on CBS Sports Network, including wins over UMass and Akron at Huskie Stadium earlier this season. 
• Jordan Kent (play-by-play) and Randy Cross (analyst) will be on the call for CBSSN.

RADIO: HUSKIE SPORTS NETWORK

• The Huskie Sports Radio Network coverage of the CMU game begins 30 minutes before kickoff, at 2:00 p.m. (CT), on 94-9 WDKB in DeKalb.
• Hear the broadcast on mobile devices via the free NIU Huskies mobile app, on TuneIn, or stream online on 949wdkb.com. 
• Longtime Huskie Sports Network sideline reporter Andy Garcia is making his NIU play-by-play debut in 2024 in his new role as "Voice of the Huskies" while analyst Mark Lindo wraps up his 40th consecutive season calling NIU football. Terry Bonadonna is in his first year as the sideline reporter.

INSIDE HUSKIE FOOTBALL RADIO SHOW

• NIU plans to hold a special bowl edition of the Inside Huskie Football Radio Show at a date to be determined after the Huskies' bowl destination is announced on December 8. 
• Fans are invited to attend the one-hour show at Fatty's Pub & Grille in DeKalb (1312 W. Lincoln Hwy).
• Hear the show live on 94-9 WDKB, on the NIU Huskies app and on TuneIn, or stream on 949wdkb.com.
• Host Andy Garcia interviews NIU Head Coach Thomas Hammock each week, along with Huskie players and special guests. 

NIU WEEKLY ON YOUTUBE

• Host Terry Bonadonna talks NIU football, basketball and more with the Huskie head coaches and administrators, including a weekly visit during football season from head coach Thomas Hammock. Get all the latest news and updates in this fast-paced show.
• Watch new episodes on the NIU Athletics Official YouTube Channel each week. 

NIU ATHLETICS ON YOUTUBE

• See weekly and post-game press conferences, special features, game highlights, NIU Weekly and more.
• Subscribe for FREE and click the bell to be notified every time NIU posts a new video.
• Search "NIU Athletics" on YouTube or go to YouTube.com/NIUAthleticsOfficial. 
• Archived videos and highlights, replays of some of the greatest games in school history and special features are also available 24/7 on YouTube.  

NIU HUSKIES MOBILE APP

• Download the free NIU Huskies mobile app from the Apple Store or Google Play.
• Link to the NIU radio broadcasts, live stats, complete team rosters, digital game programs and more.
• Connect to the NIU social media channels and sign up for notifications on any Huskie team.

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  NOTING NIU  

REGULAR SEASON FINALE: NIU wraps up the 2024 regular season at home with a Thanksgiving Saturday date with Central Michigan as the teams meet for the 60th time. Kickoff at Huskie Stadium is set for 2:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.  

BOWL ELIGIBLE: NIU secured bowl eligibility with its win over Akron on November 13th in Huskie Stadium. The Huskies are bowl eligible for the third time in the last four seasons and in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2017-18. NIU's 14 bowl appearances since 2003 (not including 2024) lead all MAC teams. The Huskies have won six games or more 19 times this century.

ONE-STOP SENIORS: Of NIU's 30 seniors, 20 have played their entire careers at NIU, a number that ranks third in the nation behind only Stanford and Navy.

Seniors Who Have Played Entire Career at Same School (min. 15)
    Stanford - 23
    Navy - 23
    NIU - 20
    Bowling Green - 17
    Iowa - 17
    Oklahoma State - 16
    Eastern Michigan - 15

MOST FREQUENT FOE: The Huskies have played Central Michigan 59 times since 1939, more than any other current NCAA FBS team. The Chippewas lead the all-time series 33-25-1 and are 21-17 versus NIU in 38 games as MAC opponents, including a 37-31 win in Mount Pleasant last year. NIU owns a 15-13-1 edge in series games played in DeKalb, although CMU has won the last two meetings in Huskie Stadium, in 2020 and 2022. 

THE LAST MEETING: After falling behind 24-3 at halftime and 37-11 with 6:32 to play, NIU staged a furious second half comeback on a snowy Halloween night at Central Michigan, cutting a 26-point lead to six, before a late interception allowed the Chippewas to hold on and defeat NIU, 37-31. Antario Brown scored on a 61-yard run and Trayvon Rudolph caught a 72-yard touchdown pass in the second half before Dane Pardridge's touchdown catch pulled NIU within six with 3:27 to play. Brown gained 167 yards on 22 carries and quarterback Rocky Lombardi completed 20-of-35 passes for a season best 298 yards and three touchdowns, while Rudolph finished the game with a season high 172 yards on eight catches as the Huskies totaled more than 500 yards of total offense in the loss. 

LAST TIME OUT: Miami scored the first 17 points of the game, led 17-3 at halftime and held on for a 20-9 win over NIU in Oxford on Tuesday, November 19. The Huskie defense rebounded from a slow start to record four quarterback sacks and hold Miami to four first downs and just 74 yards in the second half, while the RedHawks' defense sacked NIU quarterback Ethan Hampton four times and held the Huskies to 128 rushing yards on 40 carries and just one touchdown.

HUSKIES IN THE MAC: In 38 seasons as a member of the Mid-American Conference, the Huskies are 168-122-2 all-time. The Huskies own a winning percentage of .633 (138-80) versus MAC foes since re-joining the league in 1997. Since 2010, NIU is 81-36 (.692) against the MAC with three undefeated campaigns, two one-loss seasons and eight division championships, including a run of six-straight (2010-15). NIU originally competed in the MAC from 1975-85.

HOME SWEET HOME: NIU has won nearly 70 percent of its games played in Huskie Stadium since 2003 with an 84-39 (.683) record at home in 21-plus seasons. During that stretch, the Huskies have had 15 winning records at home and five undefeated seasons in DeKalb (2003, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013). NIU's all-time record at Huskie Stadium is 186-119-2 for a .609 all-time winning percentage.

AT HOME IN THE MAC: In 38 seasons of MAC play dating back to 1975, NIU is 90-55-1 (.620) all-time at home in league games, including a 72-35 (.673) mark in Huskie Stadium versus league opponents since rejoining the league in 1997.  In 55 MAC home games since 2009, the Huskies are 44-18 (.710). 

CLOSE CALLS: Five of NIU's 11 games this season have been decided by one score or less with a difference of three points or fewer in three games. That is less than the eight (of 13) NIU one-score games of a year ago. Since the start of the 2016 season, NIU's 60 one-score games played leads all FBS teams, with Eastern Michigan and Texas next in line.

One-Score Record Since 2015
1.     NIU    60 (28-32)
2.     Eastern Michigan    56 (28-28)
3.     Texas    55 (24-31)
T4.     Nebraska    52 (14-38)
T4.     Iowa State    52 (21-31)
6.     North Carolina    51 (22-29) 
7.     Oklahoma State    50 (31-19)
T8.     Kansas State    49 (24-25)
T7.     Tulsa    49 (22-27)

In 67 games under Thomas Hammock, 39, including 26 MAC contests, have been decided by one score. Included in those 39 games are four overtime games. 

50 AND OVER CLUB: Ten Huskies have now played in at least 50 games for the Huskies after S Jordan Hansen, OL J.J. Lippe, S Nate Valcarcel, DT Jacob Waskow and OL Logan Zschernitz all reached the mark at Miami. They join DT Demond Taylor Jr. (58 games played), OG John Champe (56), DT Devonte O'Malley (56), LB Jaden Dolphin (54), and TE Tristen Tewes (54) in the Huskie 50 and over club. Lippe leads all current players with 45 career starts, followed by Zschernitz and O'Malley with 44 starts each. 

FRESH FACES: Defensive end Lance Ingold and offensive lineman Landon Hron became the latest NIU true freshmen to make their college debuts at Miami. Nine first-year Huskies - including wide receiver George Dimopoulos and kicker Austin Bullock, who have played in every game - have now seen action for the Huskies in 2024. Running back Telly Johnson Jr. has made the biggest impact with back-to-back 100-yard rushing games versus Western Michigan and Akron, while wide receiver La'Don Bryant, recorded his first career reception last week at Miami.   

DETAILING THE DEFENSE

THIRD AND NO: Miami converted just 2-of-10 third downs last week, the eighth opponent this season NIU has held to three or less third down conversions. The Huskies' third down conversion percentage defense of .259 (37-of-143) now leads the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) as opponents are converting just over once in every four third down tries. Both NC State (1-of-11) and Bowling Green (1-of-13) were held to one conversion while Buffalo (2-of-15), Toledo (2-of-15), Western Michigan (2-of-10) along with Miami had a pair of third down conversions. Only Ball State (10-of-18),  UMass (5-of-14) and Akron (6-of-18) have converted more than three times on third down against NIU this season. 

ELITE D: NIU continues to rank among the Top 25 teams in the FBS in most defensive statistical categories. Through 11 games, the Huskie defense has given up just 20 touchdowns - less than two per game - on defense.  
 

Category	Avg,/No.	National Rank	MAC Rank
3rd Down Conv. Defense	.0.259	1	1
Total Defense	288.0	8	1
Rushing Defense	111.7	22	2
Passing Yards Allowed	176.3	16	2
Pass Efficiency Defense	112.41	20	2
Scoring Defense	18.6	19	3
Red Zone Defense	0.759	21	1
Quarterback Sacks	2.91	17	1

HISTORICALLY GOOD: In holding opponents to averages of 288.0 yards and 18.6 points through 11 games, the Huskie defense is reaching levels that have not been achieved by NIU in recent years. The last time a Huskie defense held opponents below 300 yards a game was in 2008 when opponents averaged 298.5 yards per game. To find a lower average yards by opponents than 288, you have to go back 54 seasons to 1972 when opponents averaged 255.2 yards per game. The 2008 NIU defense gave up 18.0 points per game, the last time opponents averaged less than the 18.5 NIU is currently giving up. 

NO RUSH: For the fifth time this season, the NIU defense held an opponent to less than 100 yards rushing as Miami totaled 87 rushing yards on 28 carries. The Huskies are just 2-3 in those games with wins over Akron, which gained a season-low 50 yards on 24 carries, and Western Illinois, who earned 94 yards on 29 carries in the season opener. The Huskies lost at NC State on September 28, despite holding the Wolfpack to just 63 rushing yards on 27 carries, and to Buffalo who totaled 77 yards on 37 runs on September 21. 

RUSHING D RECORDS: NIU opponents have been held to 150 or fewer yards on the ground 17 times in the last 24 games and nine times in 2024. The Huskies are 12-5 in those games, including an 8-1 mark when opponents rush for 101-150 yards. NIU's win over Western Michigan marked its first in the last two seasons (seven games) when giving up more than 150 rushing yards. 

SECOND HALF D: Opponents have scored just 79 points against NIU in the second halves of games this year for an average of 7.2 points per game. The Huskies have two second half shutouts (Akron, Bowling Green) and have not allowed a second half touchdown in five games. Miami scored just three points in the second half in the Huskies' last game, those coming after a turnover gave the RedHawks the ball on the NIU 25-yard line. Toledo and Ball State were each held to a pair of field goals in the second half, while both Notre Dame and NC State each managed just one third quarter touchdown. 

STOP RIGHT THERE: NIU opponents have reached the Red Zone (20 yard line) just 29 times in the Huskies' 11 games this year an average of 2.6 times per game. Teams have scored on 22-of-26 trips inside the red zone with only half (11) of those scores or 38 percent (11 of 26) for touchdowns. Opponents have been held to field goal attempts from inside the red zone 12 times, including from the NIU four and nine yard lines last week at Miami. For comparison, in the last three seasons, NIU opponents' touchdown percentage from the red zone has been 58 (2023), 68 (2022) and 69 (2021) percent.

ON THAT NOTE: In 11 games, NIU opponents have attempted 24 field goals and made 17, the most since 2018 when Huskie foes made 25-of-34 three-pointers. Ten of NIU's 11 opponents in 2024 have attempted at least one field goal with Western Michigan the only exception. Miami was the fourth team to try at least three threes. 

FORCE IN THE MIDDLE: Senior defensive tackle Devonte O'Malley has recorded a quarterback sack in six of the Huskies' last seven games, including last week at Miami, to lead NIU with eight on the season. He ranks second in the MAC and 21st nationally in sacks and has moved up to sixth on NIU's career sacks list with 21. His eight sacks this season are the most by a Huskie since All-American Sutton Smith recorded 15 in 2018. O'Malley also leads NIU in tackles for loss with 9.5. In NIU's signature win at Notre Dame, O'Malley recorded two sacks for minus 22 yards, three tackles for loss, four solo stops and a forced fumble and was named the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week.

PROPHETE-ABLE: Senior Jashon Prophete collected NIU's seventh interception of the season - and the first of his career - to set up Kanon Woodill's 47-yard field goal at the end of the first half at Miami. Prophete, the Huskies' nickel, has played in 48 career games and started 26 straight. His 24 solo stops are tied for third on the team.

GREAT EIGHT: Eight senior members of the NIU defense - all who have played in at least 46 games as Huskies - enter Saturday's Senior Day match-up with more than 100 career tackles, led by linebacker Jaden Dolphin's 204. Dolphin and Jordan Hansen each have 100 solo stops in their careers. Four players have more than 10 pass break-ups and four have double-digit tackles for loss. See the stats on the "Great Eight" in the PDF of the release.  

TRENCH MOB: With the addition of Ray Thomas beginning at Ball State after he returned from offseason injury, 11 players, including five seniors, five juniors and redshirt freshman Mark Hensley, are playing significant snaps on the defensive line rotation for NIU in 2024.  They have accounted for 29 of the Huskies' 32 sacks 46 tackles for loss. 

DUELING LINEBACKERS: The Huskies starting linebacking duo of Jaden Dolphin and Christian Fuhrman remain tied atop the NIU tackle chart entering the Central Michigan game with 51 tackles each. Their stats are nearly identical with 19 solo stops and 32 assists and one interception apiece. Fuhrman, a grad transfer from SEMO, has 3.5 tackles for loss to 2.5 for Dolphin, while Dolpin has a pair of pass break-ups to one for Fuhrman. 

BURLSWORTH NOMINEE: Former walk-on Skyler Gill-Howard, who transferred to NIU from Upper Iowa prior to the 2022 season, was NIU's 2024 nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy, which goes to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on. Gill-Howard leads all NIU defensive linemen in tackles with 48 on the year and is second on the team in tackles for loss with 7.5. In NIU's win at Bowling Green, he recorded a pair of sacks and three tackles for loss to earn MAC Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors. Head coach Thomas Hammock has called Gill-Howard the best leader to play for him at NIU.   

SACK PARTY AT BG: The Huskies recorded a season high six sacks at Bowling Green with all six by NIU defensive linemen, led by Skyler Gill-Howard's career best two. Roy Williams' sack and caused fumble was recovered by Jalonnie Williams for a Huskie turnover. Jalonnie Williams added his first sack of 2024, with Cade Haberman and Devonte O'Malley each contributing a sack. The last time the Huskies had at least six sacks in a game was on Nov. 9, 2022 versus Western Michigan in a 24-21 NIU win.

PICK 'EM: NIU intercepted three passes at Western Michigan to double its season total. Santana Banner collected his first career interception when he picked off the WMU punter on a fake attempt; linebacker Jaden Dolphin made his second career INT - and first since 2021 - to set up a Huskie touchdown and Nate Valcarcel picked off his second pass of the season, and fifth of his career, deep in NIU territory to stop a Western Michigan drive. NIU's last three-interception game was versus Ohio in 2023. 

BACK-TO-BACK: NIU held both Buffalo and NC State to less than 200 yards of total offense, the first time in 20 seasons a Huskie team held back-to-back opponents to less than 200 yards. NC State gained just 171 yards, one week after Buffalo totaled only 184. In 2005, the Huskies gave up 174 yards to Eastern Michigan on Oct. 15 and followed that up by holding Kent State to 195 yards on Oct. 22.

ON THE OFFENSE

RANKING THE OFFENSE: NIU leads the MAC and ranks 15th in the country in rushing offense with a 211.4 yard average and owns the No. 1 total offense in the league with an average of 388.1 yards per game. NIU is also the MAC's top team in fewest sacks allowed (1.45/game) and time of possession (32:48) with a No. 9 national rank in the latter. The Huskies' third down conversion percentage of .442 is second-best in the league.   

BIG PLAY TRAY: With his 58-yard touchdown run versus Akron, senior Trayvon Rudolph has scored 11 touchdowns on plays of 30 yards or longer in his Huskie career, not including his 39-yard touchdown pass to Dane Pardridge in that game. Rudolph has 15 career touchdowns, 10 receiving, four rushing and one kickoff return. He is the first non-quarterback to throw a touchdown pass and score a rushing TD in the same game since future NFL receiver Tommylee Lewis, who had a 54-yard touchdown run and threw a 17-yard scoring pass to quarterback Jordan Lynch versus Eastern Michigan on October 26, 2013.  

RUDOLPH IN THE BOOKS: Senior Trayvon Rudolph needs 50 receiving yards to become the ninth 2,000-yard receiver in school history and is two receptions away from the NIU Top 10. He totaled a season-high 95 all-purpose yards versus Akron and now has 3,878 for his career to rank tied for ninth at NIU. He leads the Huskies in receptions with 28 on the year despite missing almost three games. In addition, the former high school quarterback has completed two-of-three passes for 52 yards with a touchdown.    

DUAL THREAT: Senior running back Gavin Williams, who transferred to NIU from Iowa in 2023, leads NIU in rushing with 676 yards on 129 carries; his 802 all-purpose yards, including 112 receiving on 19 catches, also lead the team. He recorded his third 100-yard rushing game of the season versus Akron with 101 yards on nine carries; his 71-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter was the longest rush of his career and the longest run of the season for NIU. At WMU, he recorded touchdowns rushing and receiving and surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in rushing yards at NIU.

TELLY TIME: True Freshman Telly Johnson Jr. is averaging 85.0 rushing yards per game since making his NIU debut versus Ball State on October 26 with six carries for 48 yards. He then posted back-to-back 100-yard rushing games, first with a team season high 141 yards on 23 carries and two rushing touchdowns in NIU's win at Western Michigan to earn MAC Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors. He followed that with a 104-yard day versus Akron in his first career start. Johnson has rushed for 340 yards on 65 carries on the season.   

TWO FOR 100:  NIU rushed for 295 yards in the Akron game with both Telly Johnson Jr. and Gavin Williams gaining 100-plus yards, the first time since Jay Ducker (146) and Antario Brown (105) each went over the 100-yard mark in the 2021 Cure Bowl game versus Coastal Carolina. Behind Antario Brown, Johnson and Williams, the Huskies own the No. 15 rushing offense in the country.   

EXPLOSIVE: All four of NIU's touchdowns versus Akron came via the "big play," it's most long play scores since the 2023 Akron game. Wide receiver Trayvon Rudolph ran for a 58-yard touchdown and threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Dane Pardridge. Grayson Barnes scored on a 32-yard catch and run on a fourth and two-play in the second quarter, and Gavin Williams secured the win with a career-long - and NIU season-long - 71-yard rush in the fourth quarter.

CHEESEHEADS: NIU's offensive line room is filled with Wisconsin natives. From the four seniors and one sophomore who have started eight games: seniors J.J. Lippe (Milwaukee), Logan Zschernitz (Spencer), Evan Buss (Kimberly) and John Champe (Brookfield) and sophomore Evan Malcore (Sun Prairie) - to the replacements who have stepped in with Buss sidelined: redshirt freshman Thomas Paasch (Green Bay) and senior Matthew Schooley (Wisconsin Rapids).   

TWO MINUTE: The 2024 Huskies have been effective in "two-minute" situations, scoring in the final minutes of a half nine times, most recently at the end of the first half at Miami. Kanon Woodill has finished those drives with field goals five times, including the game-winner at Notre Dame, the game-tying kick versus Buffalo to send the game to overtime and the kick to give NIU the lead at Ball State. At Western Michigan, quarterback Ethan Hampton directed a 12-play, 60-yard drive, hitting Gavin Williams who scored from five yards out, to give the Huskies a 21-14 halftime lead.
 
Game: Scoring Play, Quarter Time (Plays-Yards, TOP) - NIU-Opp
vs. WIU: Rudolph 43 pass from Hampton (Woodill PAT), 2nd 0:40 (4-60, 0:44) - 34-3
at ND: Woodill 35 FG, 4th 0:31 (11-31, 5:24) - 16-14
vs. Buffalo: Woodill 27 FG, 4th 0:24 (13-66, 3:04) - 20-20
at NC State: Thompson 6 pass from Hampton (Woodill PAT), 2nd 1:45 (9-75, 3:10) - 14-17
vs. Toledo: Woodill 37 FG, 2nd 0:00 (9-60, 1:16) - 6-7    
at Ball State: Thompson 54 pass from Hampton (Woodill PAT), 2nd 1:12 (6-75, 0:39) - 14-19
at Ball State: Woodill 47 FG, 4th 0:15 (12-50, 1:36) - 23-22    
at WMU: Williams 5 pass from Hampton (Woodill PAT), 2nd 0:09 (12-60, 1:45) - 21-14
at Miami: Woodill 47 FG, 2nd 0:04 (4-1, 1:41) - 3-17

THE QB STORY: Junior Ethan Hampton has started nine games on the season after initially winning the job in preseason camp, while redshirt freshman walk-on Josh Holst has seen action in six games and started the Toledo and Ball State contests. Holst stepped in when Hampton went down with an injury versus Bowling Green to lead the Huskies to the 17-7 win. Hampton missed the Toledo game and came back, but did not start, at Ball State. He did enter the game and completed 18-of-33 passes for 168 yards, leading the Huskie comeback as NIU took the  lead with 15 seconds to play. Hampton then directed NIU to wins at Western Michigan and Akron before leaving the Miami game in the fourth quarter after getting sacked for the fourth time. Holst then came on to direct NIU's final drive.   
 
AB 3K: On his 34-yard touchdown run at Ball State, Antario Brown became the ninth Huskie to surpass 3,000 career rushing yards. He is the first player since quarterback Jordan Lynch (2009-13) to surpass the 3,000-yard mark and the first running back since Garrett Wolfe (2004-06) to join the club. With two rushing TDs at Ball State, Brown moved past NIU head coach Thomas Hammock into 10th place on the Huskies' career list after passing Hammock on the rushing yardage chart earlier this season. The senior, who has 3,090 rushing yards on 518 carries for a 6.0 yards per carry average, has missed NIU's last two games after getting injured on a 49-yard run in the first quarter at Western Michigan. 

IN A RUSH: The Huskies finished the UMass game with 367 yards on 54 carries, averaged 6.8 yards per rush and threw just two passes after the 9:15 mark of the second quarter. It was the most rushing yards for NIU since the 2023 Akron game (35-380) and the seventh time NIU has run for 300 or more yards under head coach Thomas Hammock. Three Huskies - running backs Gavin Williams (125) and Jaylen Poe (98) and quarterback Ethan Hampton (64) - gained at least 60 yards, the first time that has happened since Nov. 23, 2021. 

STRONG START: Redshirt junior quarterback Ethan Hampton opened the season with a near-perfect passing day versus Western Illinois to earn MAC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Hampton completed 18-of-20 passes for 328 yards and five touchdowns, setting a single game school record for passing efficiency rating (310.3) and becoming the seventh NIU QB to throw five or more touchdown passes in a game. He followed that performance by engineering NIU's historic win over Notre Dame with 198 passing and 21 rushing yards, a passing TD and no interceptions to earn a spot on the Davey O'Brien Great 8 list. 

SPECIAL INTEREST

BUSY MAN: NIU kicker Kanon Woodill has made field goals in eight of the Huskies' 11 games and in every game decided by one score or less. He has made a season-best three field goals twice this season. At Notre Dame, Woodill made threes from 42 and 21 yards to give NIU a 13-7 halftime lead, then booted the game-winning 35-yard kick with 31 seconds to play in the 16-14 win. He also had three field goals in NIU's 17-7 win at Bowling Green and accounted for all six of NIU's points versus Toledo. The senior has made a career high 14 threes in 2024 and his 67 points lead NIU. Woodill is 28-of-41 on threes in 20 career games as the starting placekicker. 

TO THE HOUSE: NIU ranks fifth nationally in kickoff returns with a 26.5-yard average on 15 returns in 2024, largely on the strength of a pair of 89-plus yard kickoff returns by two different Huskies. At Western Michigan, Cam Thompson put the Huskies ahead to stay with a 91-yard kickoff return touchdown in the third quarter, the first kickoff return TD by a Huskie since current teammate Trayvon Rudolph scored on a 100-yard kickoff return versus Bowling Green on October 16, 2021. On October 5, Jaylen Poe took a kick back 89 yards to the four-yard line versus UMass. It is the first time since Huskie great Tommylee Lewis scored on kickoffs of 100 and 95 yards versus Toledo in 2011 that NIU has had two returns of at least 89 yards in the same season.  

UNCOMMON: At Bowling Green, senior long snapper Isaac Hatfield scored the first points of his career by catching a pass from tight end Grayson Barnes on a two-point conversion attempt, giving the Huskies a 14-7 lead to start the fourth quarter. Hatfield and Hunter Higham of Hawai'i, who caught a two-point conversion pass versus Northern Iowa on September 21, are the only FBS long snappers to score this season. 

ON THE BLOCK: NIU defensive tackle Cade Haberman earned MAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after blocking a pair of Notre Dame field goals, including the 62-yard potential game-winner as time expired. He is the first Huskie to block two kicks in a game since Jalen McKie blocked a field goal and a PAT at Nebraska in 2019; the last player to block two field goals in a season was George Rainey in 2013. Freshman Santana Banner's blocked field goal at Ball State gave NIU three on the season, the most field goal blocks by the Huskies since 2019 when they had five total blocked kicks including a punt, a PAT and three field goals. 

OF NOTE

ADDED TO THE BONEYARD: With its 16-14 victory over Notre Dame on September 7, NIU added its 19th Boneyard Win to its ledger. "Boneyard Wins" date back to 1983 and are defined as wins over teams from "power" leagues, as well as independents like Notre Dame and (formerly) BYU. NIU has added three bones to the yard in the last four seasons under Thomas Hammock.

MADE HISTORY: NIU's win over fifth-ranked Notre Dame was its first victory over a Top 10 team in school history. The Huskies also became the first Mid-American Conference team to defeat a team ranked in the Top Five of a major poll. Prior to Sept. 7, NIU's last win over a ranked team was on Nov. 3, 2015, a 32-27 win over No. 20 Toledo. Its last win over a ranked non-conference foe was a 19-16 win over No. 21 Alabama on Sept. 20, 2003. The win was the Huskies' seventh all-time over a ranked opponent.

PULLING RANK: On September 8 following its win over Notre Dame, NIU entered the Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time since December 8, 2013 with a number 25 national ranking and 114 points. NIU climbed to No. 23 the next week after the Huskies' open date. This year marked the earliest in the season, and the first time since 2013, that NIU cracked the Top 25. The Huskies spent 11 consecutive weeks in at least one of the polls during an undefeated regular season in 2013.

HUSKIE GRADS: There are 18 players on the Huskie roster who are already college graduates, including all four senior members of the starting offensive line, eight players listed as first team on the current NIU depth chart and another six on the two-deep. 

SCHOLAR-ATHLETE: NIU offensive lineman J.J. Lippe was named a semifinalist for the 2024 Campbell Trophy. Lippe, who has become one of the top leaders on the Huskie team, has earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in business from NIU over the past five years.  

HALL OF FAMERS: A pair of Huskie football greats were inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame on October 18 during Homecoming festivities on the NIU campus. Two-time All-American, 2013 Heisman finalist and NCAA record-setting quarterback Jordan Lynch and first team All-American defensive back Jimmie Ward joined the elite club. Ward, a first round draft choice of the 49ers in 2014, was not able to attend as he is now with the Houston Texans in his 11th NFL season. Lynch, the head football coach at Mt. Carmel High School, has led the Caravan to three state championships.

IN OT: NIU is 10-6 in overtime games after losing, 23-20, in OT to Buffalo on September 21. NIU has played an overtime game in four consecutive seasons. Prior to the Buffalo game, the Huskies had won five of their last six overtime contests.